Re: [802SEC] P&P question on comment resolution

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5.4.3.2 Resolution of comments, objections, and negative votes

The Sponsor shall make every attempt to resolve comments, objections, and negative votes that are

accompanied by comments. Comments that advocate changes in the document, whether technical or

editorial, may be accepted, revised, or rejected. It should be borne in mind that documents are professionally

edited prior to publication.

Comments received before the close of ballot from persons who are not in the balloting group require

acknowledgement sent to the commentor and shall be presented to the comment resolution group for

consideration. Comments received after the close of ballot will be forwarded to the Sponsor for

consideration at the next update of the standard. If a comment is received as a result of a public review

process, that comment will be addressed by the Sponsor and a disposition returned to the commentor, along

with information concerning their right of appeal.

In order for a negative vote to be changed to an affirmative vote, the Sponsor shall obtain written

confirmation from each voter (by letter, fax, or electronic mail) that indicates concurrence with any change of

his or her vote. If the negative vote is not satisfied, either entirely or in part, the negative voter shall be

informed of the reasons for the rejection and be given an opportunity either to change his or her vote to

“approve” or to retain his or her negative vote during a recirculation ballot.

Changes may be made in the document to resolve negative votes that are accompanied by comments or for

other reasons. All substantive changes made since the last balloted draft shall be recirculated to the

Sponsor balloting group. All unresolved negative votes with comments shall be recirculated to the Sponsor

balloting group. The verbatim text of each comment, the name of the negative voter, and a rebuttal by the

members conducting the resolution of ballots shall be included in the recirculation ballot package.

During a recirculation ballot, balloting group members shall have an opportunity to change their previously

cast ballots. A change to “do not approve,” which is submitted with comments, shall be based only on the

changed portions of the balloted document, clauses affected by the changes, or portions of the balloted

document that are the subject of the unresolved negative votes. If a change to “do not approve” is based

solely on comments concerning previously approved portions of the balloted document, the balloter shall

be informed that the comments are not based on the changed portion of the balloted document and,

therefore, those comments may not be addressed in the current ballot and may be considered for a future

revision of the standard. If the balloter does not agree to change the negative ballot, the ballot shall be

recorded as an unresolved negative without comment.

Further resolution efforts, including additional recirculation ballots, may be required if additional negative

votes (with new technical comments) result. However, once 75% approval has been achieved, the IEEE has

an obligation to the majority to review and publish the standard quickly. Therefore, once 75% approval has

been achieved, the IEEE requirements for consensus have been met. Efforts to resolve negative votes may

continue for a brief period; however, should such resolution not be possible in a timely manner, the Sponsor

should forward the submittal to RevCom.

Copies of all unresolved negative votes, together with the reasons given by the negative voters and the

rebuttals by the Sponsor, shall be included with the ballot results submitted to RevCom. Copies of the

written confirmations from voters that indicate concurrence with the change of their votes from negative to

affirmative shall be included in the submittal to RevCom.

Proposed standards receiving a significant number of unresolved negative votes should be considered by

the Sponsor for trial-use (see 5.7).

Matthew Sherman, PhD
Senior Member Technical Staff
BAE SYSTEMS, CNIR
Office: +1 973.633.6344
email: matthew.sherman@baesystems.com